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Highlights • Combined PFEM-DEM-FEM mill model. • Efficient and robust fluid model of the pulp is included into the numerical model. • Numerical results are validated against experimental measurements. • Direct coupling between force, stress and deflection for the whole mill system. • Predict pressure in the pulp. Abstract Modelling of wet grinding in tumbling mills is an interesting challenge. A key factor is that the pulp fluid and its simultaneous interactions with both the charge and the mill structure have to be handled in a computationally efficient way. In this work, the pulp fluid is modelled with a Lagrange based method based on the particle finite element method (PFEM) that gives the opportunity to model free surface flow. This method gives robustness and stability to the fluid model and is efficient as it gives possibility to use larger time steps. The PFEM solver can be coupled to other solvers as in this case both the finite element method (FEM) solver for the mill structure and the DEM solver for the ball charge. The combined PFEM-DEM-FEM model presented here can predict charge motion and responses from the mill structure, as well as the pulp liquid flow and pressure. All cases presented here are numerically modelled and validated against experimentally measured driving torque signatures from an instrumented small-scale batch ball mill equipped with a torque meter and charge movements captured from high-speed video. Numerical results are in good agreement with experimental torque measurements and the PFEM solver also improves on efficiency and robustness for solving charge movements in wet tumbling mill systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modelling the pulp fluid and its simultaneous interactions with both the charge and the mill structure is an interesting challenge. The interactions have previously been modelled for dry grinding with a combination of discrete element method (DEM), smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) and the finite element method (FEM), where the DEM particles or SPH particles represent the grinding balls and FEM is used to model the mill structure. In this work, the previous model is extended to include fluids with SPH. Wet milling with water and a magnetite pulp, for graded and mono-size charges are numerically modelled and validated. The internal working of the charge and the physical interaction between the charge and the mill structure is studied. The combined SPH–DEM–FEM model presented here can predict the classical DEM results, but can also predict responses from the mill structure, as well as the pulp liquid flow and pressure. Validation is conducted by comparing numerical results with experimental measurements from grinding in an instrumented small-scale batch ball mill equipped with an accurate torque metre. The simulated charge movement is also compared with high speed video of the charge movement for a number of cases. Numerical results are in good agreement with experimental measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Combined SPH–DEM–FEM mill model. [•] Pulp is included into the numerical model. [•] Direct coupling between force, stress and deflection for the whole mill system. [•] Predict pressure in the pulp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The smoothed particle hydrodynamic (SPH) method is used to model a ball charge and its interaction with the mill structure, while the flexible rubber lifter and the lining are modelled with the finite element method (FEM). The adaptive nature of the SPH-method together with the non-connectivity between the particles results in a method that is able to handle very large deformations. This computational model makes it possible to predict the deflection and stresses of the lining in a pilot ball mill and the mechanical waves travelling in the mill system. It also makes it possible to predict e.g. charge pressure and von Mises’ stress within the charge and the contact forces between the charge and lining. The deflection profile of the lifters obtained from SPH–FEM simulation shows a reasonably good correspondence to pilot mill measurements as measured by an embedded strain gauge sensor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Computational demands and the lack of detailed experimental verification have limited the value of distinct element method (DEM) modelling approaches in mill simulation studies. This paper presents the results of a study in which the deflection of a lifter bar in a pilot ball mill is measured by an embedded strain gauge sensor and compared to deflections predicted from finite element (FE) simulations. The flexible rubber lifter and the lining in a tumbling mill are modelled with the finite element method (FEM) and the grinding medium is modelled with DEM. The deflection profile obtained from DEM–FE simulation shows a reasonably good correspondence to pilot mill measurements. To study the charge impact on the mill structure two different charges are used in the simulations. The approach is a contribution to the validation of DEM–FE simulations and an introduction to the description of a bendable rubber lifter implemented in a DEM–FEM mill model. It opens up the possibility to predict contact forces for varying mill dimensions and liner combinations. FEM is especially valuable in this case, since there are readily available libraries with material models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]